A wind farm which could supply electricity to about 170,000 homes in Northern Ireland moved a step closer to reality today when a consortium was chosen to explore the possibilities of starting generation off the North's north coast.
The number of houses it could supply amounts to 28 per cent of all homes in Northern Ireland.
The Crown Estate announced it was issuing an exclusive agreement with the consortium formed by B9 Energy Offshore Developments, Renewable Energy Systems and Powergen Renewables Developments to explore the potential for an offshore wind farm on the Tunes Plateau.
The site, about three miles from shore in the mouth of the Foyle Rover in Co Derry, is capable of hosting up to 60 turbines. If the exploration is successful, work on constructing the wind farm could start in 2005.
PA